Background
The SomReP[1] consortium established in 2013 is an ambitious approach to tackle the challenge of recurrent droughts and the chronic vulnerability that results among pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and peri-urban households across Somalia. Seven international NGOs with deep experience in Somalia have joined as a long-term consortium to build and field test a resilience model based on the latest global resilience thinking, innovative livelihood approaches for the Somalia context, and bridging the relief to development continuum.
In more than six years, SomReP has been implementing numerous resilience projects which have impacted positively on thousands of beneficiaries. The interventions have helped to improve the absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacity of households to respond to shocks which has ultimately led to improved economic wellbeing and resilience to shock and stress.
Owing to complexity of interventions[2] that SomReP implements, a backlog of data is collected at different levels to help the programme monitor progress and assess the impact of its interventions. The data are collected through a mobile data collection system, KoBo. Considering the large volumes of data collected and the complexity of the programme, it has become increasingly challenging to process, analyse real time data and track progress at different levels: process, output, outcome, and impact level. It is against this background that SomReP seeks to hire the services of a consultant to help develop an information management, analytics and visualization platform that will enable SomReP track progress at different level (process, output, outcome and impact levels).
The consultancy sought after will therefore provide further recommendations, support and help in setting up a mobile data collection system, a cloud based database, a web based application that will be able to upload all data from the previous implemented projects as well as register new projects and activities together with a data visualization platform that will facilitate the analysis of collected data. The system should also generally support generation of user-friendly ad hoc reports and insights. The consultant will also be required to build capacity of the World Vision Somalia IT and Monitoring and Evaluation team of the consortium on updating and maintenance of the system to be developed.
Objectives and Scope of Work
The objectives of this consultancy is to develop an Information Management and Visualization System that will support SomReP in mobile data collection, managing, processing and analysing real time data and visualizing the key results on identified indicators to support decision making process. The data management and visualization system shall include development of a dynamic dashboard that will constitute a holistic project’s management information system.
The consultancy is crucial in creating dynamic linkages between field data forms, GIS data and creation of a cloud-based M&E database as well as working to continually identify, acquire and enrich the raw data & M&E database with external spatial and quantitative data relevant to SomReP’s M&E systems. The consultant is expected to deliver timely results in a wide range of areas including but not limited to the following:
1. Project requirement/problem definition:
The consultant will be expected to meet with the technical unit M&E and Programs personnel for a one-day workshop to understand the user requirements and provide technical advice and recommendations on the system proposed. This is to be done during the inception phase of the consultancy.
2. User permission modules and user interface:
The consultant will be expected to design the project managers user interface that will incorporate user permission levels on the front-end application. The consultant will collaborate with the consortium technical unit monitoring and evaluation and program personnel to define the user groups (levels).
3. Server-filter:
The consultant will be expected to code and test server filters for activities and beneficiaries in line with the user permission levels.
4. Activity capturing and definition module:
The consultant will be expected to incorporate a module for defining and capturing activities at the household, community and group level. Provision should be made to allow for activity revision and modification as well as addition of a narrative section for the explanation or justification of activity modification. The system to be developed should be in a position to incorporate
a performance-tracking module that flags activities that are non-performing through tracking and monitoring the activities set target against the planned within the specified project timeline.
5. Narrative report capturing module:
The system to be developed will be expected to incorporate a report capturing module that allows the program managers to attach their narrative reports with pictures. The attachment file format and template will be agreed upon during the inception workshop.
6. Double counting of beneficiaries:
The system to be developed should be in a position to define new database views to solve ‘double-counting’ of beneficiaries benefiting from several interventions due to layering and sequencing of different projects.
7. Creation of a Database:
The consultant will be expected to recommend a database schema and support creation of a cloud-based database that will eventually be compatible with Power BI dashboard platform and data collection applications.
8. Provision of beneficiaries’ unique identification number:
The consultant will be expected to incorporate a module for providing and capturing beneficiaries’ unique identification number and which will be aligned to the consortium’s beneficiaries’ registration form.
9. Master log-frame and project update module:
The consultant will be expected to incorporate a module for capturing new and updating ongoing projects. The module should capture the start and end date, status and implementing consortiums members under the project. Provision should also be made to allow track for expenditure at the consortiums members level.
10. Project managers output (Reporting):
The system to be developed should be in a position to restrict views for program managers from the different members organization by having filtered views for district, communities, activities and registered beneficiaries. The project manager tool should be able to have activities filtered by district, result areas, communities, status, timeline and project. A module should also be created to allow for downloading of filtered data set from the project manager’s tool and also generating of reports.
11. Training and system documentation:
The consultant should be able to develop a standard operating manual that will document the development process and guide users on the use of the system. This will then inform the basis of the training to be provided to the IT team and consortiums Program and M&E personnel.
12. System piloting:
Deployment of the live project manager’s tool. Consultant to monitor the project manager’s tool remotely, troubleshoot and fine tuning of the live system if need arises. Consultant to review and implement the program manager’s feedback for a period of three months after the roll out of the system
13. Data mapping:
Consultant in collaboration with the technical unit, M&E team to upload and map the past SomReP projects data onto the new project manager’s data structure.
14. Data security:
The consultant will be expected to ensure the system is configured in such a way that data/information security and the security standards in the supplier qualification check are adhered to.
15. System migration:
The consultant will be expected to migrate the system developed so that it be hosted internally in World Vision Server and test case each phase to ensure a smooth migration. This will be done after the three-month free maintenance period.
Time frame and estimated working days
The assignment is expected to start in the month of February 2020 and be completed within 60 working days
Key competences, technical background and experience required
Applications are open to individuals or registered firm/company both international and local based.
Applicants should have the following skills and qualifications:
- Excellent analytical, detail-oriented, presentation and problem-solving skills
- Proven work experience as a Data/System analyst and developer including use of web enabled systems
- Strong experienced in Software Development (ex: Web development in JS, PHP and HTML). Prior experience in development of an information management system for humanitarian organization will be an added advantage.
- Experience in developing data visualization tools/dashboards using Power BI
- Experience with data modelling tools, preferably Navicat Data Modeler.
- Extensive database management skills including complex queries, performance tuning and database development
- Familiarity of mobile data collection platforms including KoBo, ONA and ODK
- Advanced degree (Masters level) in a relevant field (computer science, data/information management, advanced statistical analysis, information technology, software engineering and Monitoring and Evaluation)
- Evidence of similar works done in the last 3 years (please provide supporting documents and referee contacts)
Application Information:
The consultant that complies with all the requirements meets all the criteria and offers the best Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following;
- Company profile of the service provider
- Proposed architecture and system design of the information management system as per the TOR
- Samples of similar work undertaken – shared as attachment or hyperlinked in cv
- Financial proposal (budget) in USD which should be inclusive of all applicable taxes and logistics costs(if any).
All applications should be sent electronically via email to somo_supplychain@wvi.org with ” Consultancy for Development of an Information Management and Visualization System” as the subject line and all attachments in pdf.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and they will be required to make a demo of a similar information management system that they have developed.
Please be advised that World Vision is not bound to accept any proposal, nor award a contract, nor be responsible for any costs associated with a Service provider’s preparation and submission of the project, regardless of the outcome or the manner of conducting the selection process.